USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; genealogy-family history-biography; containing historical sketches of old families and of representative and prominent citizens, past and present, Volume II > Part 25
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Henry C. Kreis acquired his education in the public schools of Middleport. His early years were spent in mine work. He began picking slate at the Palmer vein colliery, and later did different kinds of work about collieries, until he received the appointment of health officer of the 713 district, which includes Blythe township, Schuylkill county. After filling this position capably for five years he determined to start in business on his own account, and in 1910 he opened the store at Middleport which he has since carried on, having a good stock of general merchandise and commanding his full share of the local patronage. His store is up-to-date in every particular and his customers receive prompt attention and first-class service, of which they have shown their appre- ciation in a very substantial manner.
Aside from business Mr. Kreis has been interested in a number of local enterprises. He is serving as president of the Citizens' Fire Company, No. I, of Middleport ; for the last twenty years he has been secretary of the P. O. S. of A. camp in the borough ; for the last ten years secretary of the Odd Fellows lodge there ; and he also holds membership in the B. P. O. Elks at Tamaqua. Politically he has been associated with the Republican party, and for six years he held the office of tax collector at Middleport. Every good movement there receives his hearty support.
Mr. Kreis married Emma Singley, daughter of John and Sarah (Yost) Singley. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Kreis are members of the Lutheran Church.
AARON STRUBHAR is occupying the place at Suedberg, in Pine Grove township, where he was born, and he belongs to an old family of Swiss origin which was planted in Pennsylvania in the early days.
John George Strephauer, the first of his ancestors to come to America, was born in Switzerland. On his arrival in this country he first lived in Berks county, Pa., thence moving to what is now Suedberg, Schuylkill county, where he bought a farm upon which he resided for many years. It was the property where his great-grandson, Aaron Strubhar, now lives, and his son George, grandfather of Aaron, built the house which the latter occupies. The great- grandfather and grandfather were both lifelong farmers, and they died at Suedberg, where they are buried. They were the parents of two children. George Strephauer was born in Berks county.
John Strubhar, son of George, was born in the house on the farm which his father built July 31, 1819, and lived to the age of eighty-one years, dying Feb. 9, 1901. Throughout his life he was engaged in farming and prospered
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in his work. Mr. Strubhar married Mary Reed, who was born March 2, 1820, in Berks county, Pa., died Feb. 18, 1886, and is buried in the cemetery at Suedberg. She was one of the large family born to Jacob Reed, a farmer, at one time living in Berks county, whence he removed to Schuylkill county in an early day, settling in Pine Grove township. He died at Suedberg. Mr. Reed belonged to a large family. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Strubhar Aaron is the only one now living.
Aaron Strubhar was born Dec. 10, 1842, was reared at his birthplace, and has been engaged in farming there ever since he began work. He has been highly successful, and the thrifty condition of his property shows that he has spared neither thought nor effort to achieve results. Wherever his interests have called him among his fellow men his worthy character has called forth expressions of respect and confidence from his associates. He has been elected school director and tax collector of his district, and discharged the duties of both offices acceptably. He is a prominent member of the Church of God, and is serving the congregation as trustee and elder. He was a charter member of the P. O. S. of A. camp at Suedberg, held the position of treasurer for eleven years, and has been chaplain and senior vice commander of Wolf Post, G. A. R., of Pine Grove, where he is very popular with his Civil war comrades. He enlisted from Suedberg during 1865 in Company F, 93d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Heckman, and remained in the service to the close of the war, being mustered out at Washington, D. C., in June, 1865. He was wounded at Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
In 1862 Mr. Strubhar married Anna R. Reed, and the following children have been born to them: Mary D., the eldest, is now the wife of Charles Christenson, of Annville, Lebanon Co., Pa .: Iva E. is the wife of Alorris Krickbaum, of Pine Grove township; Lyman E. is a resident of Palmyra, Pa .; Harvey lives at home; George, the youngest, is at Pottstown, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Strubhar was born near Orwigsburg in Schuylkill county, daughter of Daniel and Esther (Faust) Reed, both natives of this county, the former born near Orwigsburg, the latter at Llewellyn. They had three children, Thomas F. still living on the old homestead of his parents; Phoebe Ann is the wife of Joseph Conard, of Kansas. Thomas Reed, Mrs. Strubhar's grandfather, settled near Orwigsburg, and died at Friedensburg, this county. He was a farmer by occupation. His wife also died at Friedensburg, where they are buried.
ROBERT CHARLES BRAUN, of Pottsville, has exercised an appreciable influence upon musical culture in this part of Pennsylvania in bringing possi- bilities of musical enjoyment into the lives of local communities and first-class instruction to ambitious students.
Born in Port Carbon, Pa., Feb. 18, 1886, he is a son of Charles T. Brown, cashier of the Pennsylvania National Bank of Pottsville, and a descendant of Johannes Braun, of Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, near McKeansburg. The great-grandfather's son, Charles Maul Braun, came to Pottsville, and he changed the spelling of the name to Brown, as C. T. Brown writes it. Robert Charles takes the original form Braun. Charles T. Brown married Sarah Frances Pugh, who was of Welsh descent and a fine contralto singer. Robert Braun was brought to Pottsville when one year old. His mother died when he was five years old,
Robert Braun
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leaving him with a brother, Edgar D., one year old. The father and two sons then lived with Frederic Gerhard, an uncle by marriage, from 1891 until the father married again, in 1904.
It is to Frederic Gerhard that Mr. Braun owes all of his early teaching and inspiration. Under Gerhard he studied violin at the age of six; took up piano in his seventh year, and continued with Mr. Gerhard until sixteen, receiving a thorough grounding in technic and ensemble playing. The Beethoven piano and violin sonatas were daily bread. He made a tour through Pennsylvania at the age of eleven as a "boy wonder." In his fourteenth year he played piano in theatre orchestra, later double bass, and became a member of the Third Brigade Band. He learned a number of orchestral and military band instru- ments, studying saxophone with Fredinand Paul, of Sousa's Band, and oboe with Max Lachmuth, of Philadelphia, and Doucet of the Paris Conservatoire. In the summer of 1912 he was oboe soloist with the Allentown Band.
Mr. Braun was a graduate in the honor division, class of 1904, Pottsville high school, class prophet, organized the High School Glee Club in 1902, and composed the high school marches for 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904. He also com- posed the march accepted for the Pottsville Old Home Week Centennial, 1908, and arranged all of these for military band and orchestra.
In 1902 Mr. Braun went to Philadelphia weekly to study piano under Constantin von Sternberg, technic under Mattie B. Moulton, and theory under G. A. A. West, also boy choir training. He studied pipe organ with S. H. Unger, and occupied an organ position with the English Lutheran Church, Pottsville, from 1903 until 1905. He was then appointed organist and choir- master of Trinity Episcopal Church, Pottsville, which had a boy choir of sixty-five. Under his direction they gave the St. Cecilia Mass by Gounod. In 1905 he taught private pupils in Pottsville ; played Beethoven and Schumann Concertos in Witherspoon Hall, Philadelphia, in 1905-06. In 1907 he opened the Reading branch of the Sternberg School of Music.
In the spring of 1909 Mr. Braun sailed for Europe, traveling through Italy, Switzerland and Germany with his teacher and friend-Constantin von Stern- berg, in the summer. Then he entered the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipzig, exempt from technic, under Teichmuller, piano (finishing class), and Schreck, theory, received his certificate the following Easter, and left for Vienna to study with Godowsky, but arrived too late in the year. Besides studying with Pugno, while he was concertizing in Leipzig, Mr. Braun made weekly trips to Berlin to study systematic memorizing with Vernon Spencer. After touring through France and England he returned to America in the fall of 1910. He remained in Philadelphia until the spring of 1911, going on short concert tours through the State; received an appointment as organist and choirmaster of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Forty-second street and Baltimore avenue, West Philadelphia ; and shortly after began to make weekly visits to Pottsville to teach a few private pupils. This was the beginning of the Braun School of Pianoforte Playing first conducted in his home, at No. 805 West Market street. It was not long before the school grew to such proportions as to warrant an assistant. In June, 1912, the school was moved to the old Whitney building, formerly occupied by the Pottsville Club, Nos. 223-225 South Centre street. Its name was changed to "The Braun School of Music," and violin and vocal departments were added. This was the first school of its kind organized in this section, and at present has a faculty of twelve instructors.
Vol. II-11
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At this time Mr. Braun opened a studio in the Greble building at Philadel- phia, and later moved to the Estey building, at Seventeenth and Walnut streets, where a branch of his school was established. In June, 1913, a thrifty branch was opened in Minersville and in November of the same year a branch was opened in Reading. At the death of Professor Gerhard, Oct. 7, 1913, he was appointed conductor of the Gerhard Symphony Orchestra. He has been conductor of the Pottsville Liederkranz since 1912, and of the Tamaqua Maennerchor since 1914.
On Monday, June 16, 1913, Mr. Braun married Miss Frances Zerbey, daughter of J. H. Zerbey, proprietor and editor of the Pottsville Republican. Mrs. Braun is a talented violinist, and she was the first woman to be admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania as a full-fledged lawyer. Mr. and Mrs. Braun reside at Fifteenth street and Howard avenue, Pottsville. He is a member of the Outdoor Club, Pottsville Club and Rotary Club, of Pottsville; of the Musical Art Club and Philadelphia Sketch Club, both of Philadelphia; and of the English Lutheran Church, Pottsville.
JONATHAN BULL, SR., bears a name which has been respected in Port Carbon for three quarters of a century and more. His father, Ross Bull, was one of the leading citizens of the borough in his day. Mr. Bull's grandfather lived near Springfield, Chester Co., Pa., where he died. By occupation he was a blacksmith.
Ross Bull came to Port Carbon at an early day and here followed his trade of shoemaker. He was one of the most effective workers at the time of the organization of the borough, in 1852, was honored with election as its first chief burgess, and later was elected justice of the peace, filling that office for many years. He was also major of the State militia at Port Carbon. He assisted in founding the Methodist Church here and was one of its most faithful officials, serving as choir leader and for many years was superintend- ent of the Sunday school. His death, which occurred Dec. 10, 1892, was regarded as a loss to the entire community. He is buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at Port Carbon. Mr. Bull married Maria Garis, a native of Berks county, Pa., who was the mother of a large family, namely: Thomas G., who was one of the "First Defenders" during the Civil war; Sarah, wife of Charles Morgan; Jonathan; Maria, who died young; William; Martha, who married James Hess and (second) Ed. Seddon ; Philip ; Margaret, who married William Fry and (second) Ed. Thomas; James; George; Charles ; Lillie, who married Thomas Nichols; and Mary, who married Harry DeHaven.
Jonathan Bull, Sr., was born Oct. 21, 1839, at Port Carbon, where he was reared and educated. During his boyhood he worked for a short time at the coal breaker. In 1855 he started to learn the trade of molder at Port Carbon and served twenty-one months, after which he went to work for his father at shoemaking. In 1859 he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company in Easton, Pa., as a blacksmith, remaining there about eighteen months, and enlisted at that town in Company C, Ist Pennsylvania Regiment, upon the first call for troops at the breaking out of the Civil war. Under this enlistment he served three months. In 1862, on the emergency call, he enlisted in the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment, under Colonel Litzinger and Capt. B. L. Eshelman, and served as second sergeant. On his third enlistment he became a member of Company A, 39th Pennsylvania Regiment, in which he was third sergeant. Later he enlisted in the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry of the Twenty-
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fourth ward, Philadelphia, and he received his last discharge Aug. 23, 1865. Returning home after the war, Mr. Bull in 1866 entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company at St. Clair, Schuylkill county, and he remained in its service for the long period of forty-three years, six months, being retired in 1909 with a pension. He has since been spending his days in leisure at Port Carbon. Mr. Bull has never taken any active part in public affairs, but he has been an interested worker in Allison Brothers Post, No. 144, G. A. R., of Port Carbon, and is a past official of that organization.
On June 6, 1863, Mr. Bull married Amanda Maria Kailey, daughter of Seteriah Kailey, of Schuylkill county. On June 6, 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Bull had the pleasure of celebrating the golden anniversary of their wedding, and on that occasion entertained ninety-six relatives at their home in Port Carbon. Their children are all living, namely : Margaret, Mrs. William Major; Thomas W., who is a resident of Huntington, W. Va .; Ross, of Port Carbon ; Jonathan, Jr., of Port Carbon ; James, of Port Carbon ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Robert Hamilton ; Ida, Mrs. A. L. Fletcher; Carrie, Mrs. Samuel Reeber; Frederick, Howard and Amanda, the last three at home. The family are Methodists in religious connection.
PAUL WOLFGANG has been a lifelong resident of Hegins township and is operating a well established business at Valley View, where he has carried on a prosperous trade in the manufacture and repair of wagons for a period of forty years. His grandfather, Jonas Wolfgang, was a farmer in the Mahan- tongo valley, in this section of Schuylkill county, many years ago, and there John Wolfgang, father of Paul, was born.
John Wolfgang also followed farming most of his life. He moved eventu- ally into the town of Valley View, where he purchased the home which he occupied until his death. He was in the Union army during the latter part of the Civil war, serving from Hegins township. He married Sophia Upde- grave, who was born in Hubley township, this county, where her father, Henry Updegrave, passed all his life. He was a farmer and shoemaker by occupa- tion. Mrs. Wolfgang died at Valley View, in the house where her son Paul now lives.
Paul Wolfgang was born in Hegins township, where he was reared and educated, attending the public schools. During his boyhood and early youth he did farm work, and he learned his trade with Jacob Wolfgang. For a short time after completing his apprenticeship he remained working for Mr. Wolf- gang, but he commenced working on his own account over forty years ago, and during all that time has been engaged principally in the manufacture of wagons. He has become known as an all-around reliable mechanic in his line, and the long continued patronage of many of his customers is sufficient to show their appreciation of his thorough workmanship. Personally, he enjoys the same high standing in all his associations. He is a trustee of the United Brethren Church, of which he and his wife are devoted members.
When twenty-one years old Mr. Wolfgang married Catherine Schwalm, a native of Hegins township, this county, where her parents, Samuel and Eliza- beth (Klinger) Schwalm, were also born. Mr. Schwalm was a farmer. He was a Civil war veteran, having been a captain in the 50th Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry. He is survived by Mrs. Schwalm, who is now (1915) eighty-six years old. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolfgang: Isabella, the eldest, is now the wife of William Troutman, of
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Hegins township; Amelia is married to J. G. Romberger, a miller, of Hegins township; Mary is the wife of John Rickert, of Valley View; Clara is the wife of Charles M. Underkoffler, of Valley View.
CHARLES M. UNDERKOFFLER, son-in-law of Paul Wolfgang, was reared and educated in Valley View, and is now doing business there in association with his father-in-law, Mr. Wolfgang, being a wheelwright by calling. He learned the trade at Valley View. He is well and favorably known in this section, a leading member of the P. O. S. of A. camp of the town, which he is at present serving in the capacity of treasurer.
SAMUEL QUICK, of Butler township, bought the farm he now occupies thirty years ago, and has been devoting his time to its cultivation with very satisfactory results. With the exception of five years in California, during his early manhood, he has passed his life in Schuylkill county, and by wisely directed energy he has become one of the well-to-do agriculturists of his section.
Born March 13, 1842, at Pottsville, Mr. Quick is a son of Samuel and Maria (Stephens) Quick, natives of England, who came to this country in 1837. At that time they had one child. Locating first in Philadelphia, Pa., they subsequently removed to Pottsville, Pa., Mr. Quick being a miner by occupation. Thence they removed to Ashland, this county, where Mr. Quick remained until his death. His wife died in California while visiting her son Samuel. Of the children born to Samuel and Maria Quick, fourteen in all, only two survive, James and Samuel, the former a resident of Columbia county.
In 1856 Samuel Quick accompanied his father to Ashland, where he spent the next few years. Reared and educated at Pottsville, he began work in the mines when a boy, and was thus engaged for some time. In 1860 he went out to California, where he spent about five years, returning to Schuylkill county in 1865. Becoming engaged in teaming in Girardville, this county, he contin- ued to follow that occupation until 1882. In 1884 he bought his present farm in Butler township, which he has operated continuously since. His industry and systematic attention to its cultivation have been well rewarded, and his useful life has earned him the regard of all who know him.
In 1867 Mr. Quick was married to Ann Harlan, who was born at Centralia, Columbia county, where her parents resided. Thirteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Quick, of whom eight survive, five sons and three daughters : Samuel, living at home; William, of Mahanoy City, this county ; Aaron, of Ashland; Hannibal, of Mahanoy City ; John, located at Harrisburg ; Maria, of Pottsville, wife of John Trout; Anna Jane, married to R. Seitzinger ; and Sallie, wife of Gustav Klase.
JOHN IFFERT, late of Rush township, was in his day one of the foremost citizens in that part of Schuylkill county. His high character made him uni- versally respected, and his industrious life brought him prosperity, the sub- stantial reward of thrift and energy well directed.
Mr. Iffert was a German by birth and grew to manhood in his native land, coming to America at the age of nineteen years. During most of his residence in this country he was a citizen of Schuylkill county, Pa., first settling at Tamaqua. While there he followed mining, at which he was also employed after his removal to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Later he was engaged in farming at Wilkes-Barre, whence he removed to Locust Valley, in Ryon township, Schuyl-
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kill county, remaining there one year. He then bought the Neifert homestead in Rush township, this county, a tract of about sixty-five acres, where he passed the rest of his life, dying there April 13, 1905. Mr. Iffert was buried in the cemetery of the White Church, in which congregation he had been an active worker, having served as deacon for thirty years.
In Tamaqua Mr. Iffert married Martha Vurburg, who was born in Ger- many and came to America when twenty-one years old, and she survived her husband, passing away Sept. 9, 1914, at the age of eighty-one years. She is also buried at the White Church, in Rush township. The following children were born to this worthy couple: (1) William, who is engaged in business as a merchant at Tamanend, this county, married Louisa Zimmerman, and they have three children, Jacob, Susan and Annie. (2) Mary married Henry Hauck, and is living at Tamanend. They have had two children, Frederick and Clarence, both deceased. (3) Henry, now a resident of Hazleton, Pa., married Elizabeth Bauchman, and their children are Adam, Harry, Florence, Clayton, Irene, Walter and Helen. (4) Christine is the wife of Henry Krouse, of Ryon township, and has children, Gertrude, John and Martha. (5) John F. P. is proprietor of the "Stone Tavern" in Rush township. He married Ella Gearhart, and their children are Bessie and Elmer. (6) Conrad is a fore- man in the Bethlehem steel plant. He married Emma Herring, but they have no children. (7) Annie is the wife of Martin Fritz. (8) Martha married Thomas Kearns and has three children, Earl, Harold and Mildred. They live in Philadelphia.
MARTIN FRITZ, who now owns and occupies the old homestead of his father- in-law, John Iffert, in Rush township, was born Sept. 22, 1876. His father, Henry Fritz, lived and died at Locust Valley, in Ryon township, and worked by the day. He married Angeline Bankes, who also died there, and they were the parents of a large family : Malinda, Henry, Frank, Joseph, Jane, Lucy, Annie, Martin, Alvin and Gabriel.
Martin Fritz had ordinary common school advantages in his boyhood and was trained to farm work from his youth. At an early age he began to work for John Iffert, by whom he was employed for seventeen years, a fact which speaks well for his capability and diligence, which were much appreciated by Mr. Iffert. He and his wife now own the Iffert homestead, which they occupy, and he gives all his time to farming, in which he has met with unusual success. He is held in high esteen by his neighbors and friends everywhere. Mr. Fritz is a member of the P. O. S. of A., but he pays little attention to affairs outside of his home interests.
Mr. Fritz married Annie Iffert, daughter of John Iffert, and three children have been born to them: Clarence, Arthur and H. Russell.
ALBERT L. MOSER has an up-to-date farm and home in Union town- ship and is considered one of the most enterprising agriculturists of that sec- tion. He belongs to an old family of Berks county, Pa., and his ancestors for generations have been prosperous farmers.
William Moser, grandfather of Albert L. Moser, was born in Albany township, Berks county, where he spent all his life. He farmed a tract of 150 acres. The Mosers are Lutherans, and he belonged to St. Jacob's Church at Jacksonville, which is just across the line in Lehigh county. He took an active part in its work, and he and his wife are buried there. In politics he became a Republican when the turn in national affairs drew him into sympathy
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with the principles of that party. His wife's maiden name was Kuntz, and they had the following children: James, deceased, a farmer and miller in North Union township, Schuylkill county, who married Cordelia Wanamaker (she lived at Allentown, Pa.) ; Thomas, deceased ; Charles ; William K. ; Albert, who died when about twenty years old; Ellen; Mary ; Kate; Sarah; Amanda ; and Lucy.
William K. Moser, father of Albert L. Moser, was born in Albany town- ship, Berks county, near the Lehigh county line, and attended school in Lehigh county. He followed agriculture and sawmilling, having two farms in Albany township, and lived to be about sixty-seven years old. Like his father he was a very zealous member of St. Jacob's Lutheran Church at Jacksonville, and a Republican in his political convictions. He married Sarah Lutz, who was also born in Albany township, where her family were farming people, and she died in 1913, when about seventy-one years old. Mr. and Mrs. Moser are buried at St. Jacob's Church. They had children as follows: William, who married Carrie Stroup, lives at Chester, Pa .; Edward married Mabel Christ and lives at Steinsville, Pa .; Robert, married to Anna Colver, is living at Read- ing, Pa .; Albert L. is next in the family; Lena is the wife of Francis Keller, of Reading; Clara is married to Lewis Lenhart, of Reading; Nellie and Daisy also live in Reading.
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